Category: Sheep
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On Pasture With Big Bales of Hay
Today, we got the pregnant ewes out into pastures where they can lamb. The grass is still not very high, so we put out some hay. We got three round bales to try. They’re smaller than some – only four feet wide and 1,000 pounds each. Ken can move them with the tractor without a Continue reading
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Lawn Mowers
The snow has all melted, and things have dried out enough to get the pregnant ewes out. They needed their spring dewormer. Afterward, as a treat, they got to be lawn mowers around the guesthouse and shop. I sat under the shop porch and watched while reading the mail. They spend a lot of time Continue reading
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Sheep Nests and New Furnace
Our sheep dig nests in the bedding pack and sleep there. No lamb eggs this year for Easter, though. Here’s one of our ewes on her nest. We also got the last bit of the west divider fence done today. We still have to fix the top section that goes over the gated pipes, but Continue reading
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The Shearing Is Done!
I was too busy to take any pictures, but we got the entire flock shorn yesterday. We had a good crew – a bunch of folks from Ravelry came, plus the Clocks, and people from Mesa Winds Farm. We started at about 8:15 AM and got done around 1:15 PM. There are 132 naked sheep Continue reading
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Baling Twine Sheep Tie
Eifion showed us how to make a sheep immobilizer from a piece of baling twine. You make a loop around the hind legs, above the hocks. Bring the ends up between the legs and tie a knot at the upper brisket. Put the heat and one front leg through the resulting loop, and the sheep Continue reading
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Getting Ready for Shearing
We spent today cleaning the old hay scraps out from under the hay barn – specifically the area where we shear the sheep. Up next will be building the sheep sweep and getting everything ready. Shearing will take place a week from today (March 28th). Continue reading
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Sheep Maternity Wear
Ovine fashion icon, OogieM, held her spring fashion show with her line of maternity coats for the well-dressed ewe. Last year’s patchwork has given way to this year’s bright new color: red. Contrasting black stitching makes a nice detail. Coats are being made in larger sizes for the plus-sized, with a new line of wide Continue reading
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Sheep Happens
You never quite know what can happen during morning chores. This morning, after feeding all of the critters, we were watching the adult rams. One was being chased by both Becky and the other rams. We’ve learned that when that happens, you must get the picked-on sheep out of the pen, or he’ll get injured. Continue reading
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Becky and the Rams
Becky is in with the adult rams now. She’s doing very well, and the sheep seem to get along well with her. Continue reading
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The Calm Before the Storm
We are now in that last calm period of winter before the major storm of spring work hits. We shear the flock on the 28th of March, and that is the start of the busy season. After shearing, we have to get our federal flock inspections done, vaccinate all the sheep, trim toes on any Continue reading